The case for Android

Constantly all over the Twitter tech space, arguments over the superior smartphone software have been rampant for a couple of years now. Today, as the title suggests we are going to take a look at the Android software and its corresponding hardware devices and make a case for why it is better than its Apple counterpart. 

Android the mobile operating system released and maintained by Google, was first unveiled in 2007 to rival Apple's IOS software for the iPhone. It was first released in 2008 as the operating system for the HTC Dream(known as the T-Mobile G1 in some other parts of the world). The android operating system is based on the Linux Kernel, which has been used in various other personal computers. With the release of the original iPhone in 2007, the mobile phone world was completely reset by such a revolutionary device. The android team that was first founded in 2003 were already working on an operating system for mobile phones, but the touchscreen on Apple's iPhone made them change their outlook for how a mobile operating system should look. They had to come up with an operating system that could support the touchscreen. Thus, the birth of the Android OS.

Skipping through the remaining 11 years of Android history, we land at the present day Android, the Android 10, with all its amazing features such as incredible multitasking, dark mode, and the somewhat gimmicky smart gestures. There are still lots more great features I didn't cover here, so you can see why the case for Android is quite strong. Also, with a much more open OS build compared to its closest competitors, for people who enjoy a lot of phone customisations, Android has to be the choice for you. Arguments have been made in the past that the Android software is suspect to bugs and viruses, but to a large extent, a lot of these problems no longer arise with the newer versions of Android we are getting. Another argument made against Android devices is that they tend to lag a lot, but again these problems have been fixed with the latest version of the Android release. In comparison with IOS in terms of performance, there isn't a noticeable difference between the two operating systems, unlike just a few years ago when the performance levels of the iPhone far outweighed its counterparts running on Android. Then, IOS compatibility with a lot of other operating system is very poor. Like, trying to copy a file from IOS to Windows can be such a hassle, whereas with Android being such an open OS, file-sharing takes minimal effort, it can be as easy as just opening up Xender on your phone or any other file sharing app. Samsung even has a direct integration software in partnership with Windows, that allows file sharing between your devices seamlessly.

We also cannot forget the vast number of options, we have with devices that are running Android. If you are looking solely for a camera phone you are covered with the Google Pixel lineup. What if you want incredible battery life because you are using your phone all day, Xiaomi and Oppo are known for providing that. Even if you are a gamer looking to game all day on your smartphone Asus ROG lineup and several other manufacturers specialize in that area. You want an aesthetically pleasing smartphone, Samsung got you covered, or, you need an all-rounder phone that is very capable of providing all the top features, Samsung and Huawei are your manufacturers. Then, there is this very fast-growing market, the budget-phone. A lot of manufacturers are beginning to operate in this space very aggressively, with Samsung having a whole lineup of budget-phones for people who can't afford the $1000 flagship. These budget phones will provide you with top-level specs mixed in with some cost-cutting measures here and there. Apple seeing this new market space open up attempted to give its users a budget iPhone with the iPhone SE 2020, but I have to say, though I am a fan of the SE 2020, Apple's attempt at it was absolutely pathetic. My thoughts on iPhone SE 2020 will be shared in a later article. Continuing on with the Android phone options, Samsung alone at halfway through the year have released 26 smartphones and tablets. The number of phones made by Android manufacturers will give any user adequate options to pick from. This something I think IOS cannot just provide due to the limitation of having just one manufacturer that uses its operating system.

In the next blog, I am going to be taking a look at the case for IOS and try to decipher why it is loved by millions of users despite its obvious drawbacks. If you have enjoyed this piece consider subscribing to the blog as there are more similar content on the way.